Air nozzle



0d. 22, 1963 T, PENKOFF 3,107,861

AIR NozzLE Filed Feb. 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR /faoes ,05AM/OFF ATTORN United States Patent() 3,107,861 AIR NOZZLE Theodore Penkoif, 1 John St., Massapequa, N.Y. Filed Feb. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 176,266 1 Claim. (Cl. 239-577) This invention relates to a nozzle for air hoses.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved push-button air nozzle which is simple and rugged in construction and reliable in operation.

Another object is to provide such a nozzle which can be manufactured economically on a mass-production basis.

These and other objects will in part be understood from and in part pointed out in the following description.

One of the handiest tools in a machine shop or garage, is an air hose and nozzle for blowing dirt and the like oi a workpiece. Now, the nozzle should be easy to control with one hand, and of course it must be able to stand rough use. 'Ihe present invention provides an improved nozzle of this kind.

A nozzle provided according to the invention includes a body portion made from a one-piece casting. The internal design of the body is such that it can be cast at very low cost and so that only a minimum amount of machining is required to nish it. A push-button type of valve is then fitted into the body. 'Ihe parts of this valve are in themselves also very simple and are arranged so that they can be permanently assembled in the body with practically no etfort. 'Ihus the cost of making this nozzle is kept very low, yet it is highly effective and virtually indestructable.

A better understanding of the invention together with a fuller appreciation of its many advantages will best be gained from the following description given in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of an air nozzle embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section view of the nozzle, with parts partly exploded;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar t-o 'FIGURE 2 but showing it fully assembled and with its push-button valve fully open;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section taken as indicated by lines 4-4 in FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the air valve stem.

The nozzle seen in FIGURES 1-4 includes a body 12 designed so that it can easily be cast. Advantageously it is made of aluminum and is formed with a large central bore 14. The rear part of this bore is machined to give a smooth cylindrical surface 16 and a shallow retaining groove 17; the forward portion of the bore is left as cast. Drilled obliquely through the front end of body 12 into bore 14 is an exit hole 18 into which is threaded a thin metal tube 2'0. This tube may be replaced by another of different size, length or shape depending upon the requirements of the job where nozzle 10 is to be used.

Extending transversely through body 12 into the forward end of bore 14 is a smaller opening 22 which is formed in casting the body and which is thereafter machined to have a smooth cylindrical wall. Inserted into opening 22 is a one-piece push-button plug 24. This plug has a necked-down upper part 2S and a flat top. 'Ihe lower part 28 of the plug closely its opening 22 and carries an `O-ring gasket 34) around a waist groove 31 to provide an air seal. As seen in FIGURE 2, the upper edge of body 12 surrounding opening 22 is a thin, upstanding armular lip 32. This lip is an integral part of body -12 and is formed during casting and machining of it. This lip, as seen in FIGURE 3, after as- "ice sembly of push-button 24 is cammed in by squeezing it with a tool, such as pliers. Ihe plug is thereafter held captive within body "12, though free to slide up and down for the length of portion 25.

As seen in FIGURE 2 in exploded relation to body 12, a connector plug 40 is adapted to lit into the machined rear end of bore 14. The forward end 42 of connected plug 40 is machined to tit snugly Within the machined end 16 of the bore. This forward end has a groove 44 which carries an air-sealing gasket 46, and a second groove l48 which loosely carries a snap ring 50. When the connector plug is pressed into body 12, as seen in FIGURE 3, this ring snaps into groove 17 thereby permanently fastening the parts together. However, 'the connector plug is -free to turn Within .the body. 'Ihus when an air hose, seen in dotted lines `in FIG- URE l, is screwed into the threaded rear end of connector plug 40, the hose does not twist against nozzle 10.

As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, connector plug 40 has an axial opening 52 into which is inserted a valve stem 54. The latter, see also FIGURE 5, is moulded of resilient plastic, such as plasticized vinyl or polyethylene, and has -a metal reenforcing core 55, advantageously an ordinary nail. Underneath the cap-like end of valve stem 54 is an annular lip 56 which, as seen in FIGURE 2, seats ush against shoulder 58 Within the connector plug. As seen in FIGURE 3, dellection of the forward end of the valve stem, by downward displacement of pushbutton plug 24, unseats lip 56 from -flush contact with shoulder 58. This permits air to llow through the nozzle. The amount of deflection of the valve stern determines the amount of air flow, very line control of the flow is thus easily obtained. When the push button is released, normal air pressure pushes the valve stern flush against shoulder 58, as seen in FIGURE 2, and stops air flow through the nozzle. The valve stem is kept from falling from the nozzle, when there is no air pressure, by a snap ring 59 placed in the rear of connector 40.

As seen in FIGURE l, the forward end of the nozzle body has an integral, curved hook 60 extending down and back. This hook not only serves as a means for hanging up the nozzle when not in use, but the hook also is a finger guard and support when the nozzle is being used. In order to hold pushbutton 24 down Without having to keep a linger on it, there is provided a wire loop 62 which is free to swing down to release the push-button, or which can be snapped over its top as shown in FIGURE 1.

The above description of the invention is intended in illustration and not in limitation of the invention. Various changes my occur to those skilled in the art and these may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth.

I claim:

An improved air nozzle comprising a rigid one-piece body portion having a large central bore and a transverse opening communicating therewith, a push button slidably mounted in said opening and extending into said bore, a separate connector plug extending into said bore and connected to said body portion and having a passage therethrough communicating with said bore, said connector plug being free to swivel relative to said body portion and to receive an air hose, a valve device including a valve stem retained in said connector plug to control the opening between said passage and said bore, the forward end of said valve step projecting into said fbore in line with and transversely of said push button, said connector plug comprising a hose-receiving portion, a valve carrying portion extending into said bore, a snap ring securing said valve carrying portion in said bore, a iluid seal between said valve carrying portion 3 and said body portion within said bore and a snap ring in said passage between said valve device and lche hose receiving end of said connector preventing the displacement of said valve device from said connector.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 Davis Mar. 7, 1939 Hudson NOV. 28, 1939 Kubiliunes Jan. 21, 1941 Donner Sept. 6, 1949 Shaff Dec. 12, 1950 Elliott Feb. 14, 1956 Voilcrtzen et al. Mar. 12, 1957 Zajac Feb. 24, 1959 Ellis May 3, 1960 A11enbaugh May 31, 1960 

